Winding up its state wide tour at Longleng, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has vowed to project the prevailing condition of the people in the state to the centre.
Congress sources said the party will place relevant data on alleged corruption of the ruling DAN coalition in the state before central leaders in New Delhi.
Data on alleged gross misutilization of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), non-supply of essential commodities to the people by the civil supplies department, deplorable condition of major road links to backward districts, drought relief scheme and other centrally sponsored schemes are some of the issues falling under the opposition’s scanner.
Though the NPCC said it would submit a separate list of farmers affected by drought with the Centre, it however remained skeptical over fund distribution.
PCC chief KV Pusa, however, said he would try to work out mechanism with the central leaders to ensure that funds were not misused by state government as in the past, where relief funds had become the pocket money of those in power.
During his last leg of the statewide tour at Longleng on October 10, the NPCC chief said congress in Nagaland was seized of the current situation in the state over neglect especially in underdeveloped districts. Pusa accused the DAN government of paying lip service and only indulged in high rhetoric in the districts.
He said the suffering of the common people would be brought to the notice of the central leaders.
He also slammed the state government for neglect of roads in Tuensang, Kiphire, Mon and Longleng which has worsened the plight of the common people.
When roads were in deplorable condition, any talk of economic uplift and welfare of the people of the under developed districts was mere wishful thinking, he contended. Pusa demanded that the state government immediately depute responsible officers to acquaint themselves of the road conditions and undertake necessary maintenance without delay.
He further asserted that the Congress being the oldest political party not only in the country but also the world has not declined in Nagaland and vowed to work for the interest of the neglected people.
Pusa attributed the party’s electoral misfortune to various factors that went against the party and consigning it to the opposition bench.
He claimed that the Congress was consolidating its strength in the state and urged people not to be disheartened but remain steadfast with party.
Denying any crisis over leadership within the Congress, NPCC vice president Nillo Rengma and PCC members Mughato Achumi and Khutovi Achumi maintained that the party in Nagaland was stronger than ever.
NPCC member Salunthang Lotha, who is also member consultative committee Food Corporation of India, Nagaland State pulled up the state food and civil supplies department for gross misuse of essential commodities meant for the common people of the state.
He said the matter was serious and that centre would be apprised of it.
Sulanthung further said essential commodities including rice, wheat and levy sugar were either diverted or misused and questioned the utilization certificates issued by the district administrations.
Supporting his claims with documents at the meeting in Longleng, Lotha said gross misuse of essential commodities has been going on for sometime but public were not aware of it.
He said as per entitlement, people of Longleng district should receive 150 MT under APL, 250 quintals of levy sugar , 579 quintals of BPL, 141 quintals of wheat, and 741.20 quintals of AAY every month but utilization certificates were issued without receiving them.
Sulanthung further urged people to demand their legitimate shares.
As for the Dimapur district the monthly total allocation for Dimapur under APL rice is 1160 MT, BPL-3317 qtl, wheat under BPL-825 qtl and levy sugar-500 qtl. However, he said out of 1160 MT of rice under APL only 200 MT is made available according to the utilization certificates. The Congress demanded to know as to what has happened to the remaining quantity.
The party has demanded the F & C department come out with clarification at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the Congress has also questioned the credibility of Dimapur district fair price shop union (DDFPSU) and wanted to know whether the said union is legally registered or not.